I stopped watching cable news a while ago. I can only imagine the indignities the Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers have to deal with under this media onslaught. It wasn't until now that I realized why this is a big issue for the "pro-life" community. I am not talking about Republican pols who are milking this situation to get more Jesus points on their 2008 primary cards. I am talking about the people who truly see this situation and abortion as murder.
If life truly begins as conception, then abortion is murder. No ifs or buts. However, the vast majority of Americans have chosen to assimilate science with their religious convictions and define for themselves where life begins. It with this understanding of life that we have chosen to put our faith in our daughter, wives and mothers in ending a pregnancy.
Maybe I'm the only who didn't get this at first, the fight over Terry Schiavo is just an extension of this fight. When does life end? Doctors tell us that Terry is in a vegetative state. They tell us there is no activity in her brain. If someone has chosen to reject all information science and medicine has to offer, what recourse does that person have but to see this as murder?
I don't know what my point is in writing this. I think I was finally struck by the issue sans the politics. I don't hate the "pro-life" activists. I actually admire them. In this day and age of civic apathy it is heartening to see people taking a stand on an issue they believe in. Sure I disagree with them, but I think this is exactly what our country was meant to be - people deepening the meaning of our democracy by engaging in debate and protest.
The real tragedy is that Republican politicians hijacked this demonstration to gain brownie points for their next campaign. I don't doubt that there are many are cases in America not unlike the one here. My guess is that this presents a unique opportunity that allows politicians fight on behalf of the "pro-life" community without being pitted against corporate interests. Everyone involved with this tragedy was taken for a ride by the GOP - the Schiavos, the Schindler and the "pro-life" activists. My hope is that one day the GOP takes the "pro-life" community for one ride too many.
This is a late night ramble. I guess this is my way of saying that the only people in this mess that I despise are the chicken-shit, hypocritical, right-wing retards who occupy seats Congress. Btw, what is Peggy Noonan on? There are no pull-the-tube people. There are only stay-the-fuck-out-of-family-business people.